The whole stand taken from the balcony – Dave C bottom row on the right, Steve N next row on the right, next row Paul with David Brabham and Mick

Friday - We had visits from all the top stars, Jim Porter and Fred Gallagher testing Dave C’s rally knowledge was the highlight, later Dave Richards called in

Saturday Dave C and myself had a few runs out on the Rally Stage with Jeff Williamson, Steve N here with Jeff on Sunday. I also got a run out with Ben Llewellin in the Ex Jimmy McRae Sierra

Win Percy made numerous visits over the weekend, then on Sunday Ari Vatanen called in and Steve N had lengthy conversations with Bill Price (ex BMC Comp manager).

Phew I think that was everyone I can remember.

The show might not have looked at its best, but like anything you get out of life what you put into it. We had a very good time.

Finally I must say a big thanks to all those who helped but the SHMAC stand together Paul & Mick and in particularly Dave C and Steve N from this forum. As I mentioned before Dave was a star promoting this forum at every opportunity and sharing his knowledge with many, particularly with Fred Gallagher!!

It was terrific to see Dave's display of Burnsie's cars and your two display cabinets of Group B and larger, plastic rally car kits. I always enjoy seeing the split Mini model too, especially as I've seen it several times in real life too! Glad to see my display didn't let the side down - there will be more models in it another time, of that there is no doubt.

Must get some suitable photos sorted to decorate the sides of the cabinet and work out a neat, clear and attractive label format too.

First time I've been face to face with an RS1700T, Paul. Thought of you as soon as I saw it there in it's shiney glory.

I've taken the executive decision to make a mould of the next XR3i I modify to create the wide wheel-arched rallycross Escorts as driven by Martin Shanche, John Smith, John Welch and others. I appreciate the wheelarches and side mouldings will be wrong for your favoured car, Paul, but tought you might be interested!

Last autumn, I was fortunate enough to be invited to take some photographs (Ok, lots of photographs) of Martin Schanche's XTrac Escort by its current owner and custodian, Mike Endean, Mr Xtrac himself!

The car has been restored to the same spec and condition that Martin ran it in with the odd modern modification (it had a sequential box at the time as it was about to go to the Brighton Speed Trials where Mike was competing a day or two later) but the original box was sitting in the workshop.

I asked about the significance of the white gear knobs, as John Welch's car had one too. Apparently, they used to rustle them up in the workshop and they had a suitable white plastic, so that was that! Unlike the rest of the car, it wasn't a deeply thought out and considered engineering decision!!

The car even had the original Ogre cuddly toy attached to the roll cage by the A Pillar which Martin had attached as a good luck charm. Thankfully, John Smith, Barry Squibb and Mike had kept it there, so when I come to make a model of the car, it will be in the interior.

I know from making the Ray Morgan Mk3 Escort (which took a LONG time to build), that I won't be able to make odels for anyone else (unless things change at work - meaning I don't have any!!) but with a model made in resin with the appropriately flared wheelarches, it should be straight-forward for someone to rustle them up. I'll aim to get a suitable donor body sorted in the coming weeks.

Form an orderly queue Chris. Im planning on buying Steve a large sweet sherry and pineapple and taking advantage of his good nature. 2x welch xtrac moulds and sets of decals Steve. And pls get a shift on with Mr Rallycross's mk2 krups escort. Im not normally a patient man.

reeft1 wrote:Form an orderly queue Chris. Im planning on buying Steve a large sweet sherry and pineapple and taking advantage of his good nature. 2x welch xtrac moulds and sets of decals Steve. And pls get a shift on with Mr Rallycross's mk2 krups escort. Im not normally a patient man.

Just wanted to add my congratulations to everyone involved in the displays over the weekend. They were amazing, and I particularly loved the rallycross display. Nice one Steve! You mentioned having a Capri to make, is that going to be a Tony Proctor one? Would certainly bring back some great memories.

Chris and Dave, it was good to finally meet you and be able to put faces to names. I'm planning to get to the World RX at Lydden again this year, so hopefully you'll be able to have your display open to the general public (me!) this time. I'm sure you'd get loads of interest.

The Capri I'm making (got as far as stripping the body) is the 4x4 works Capri driven by a certain Roger Clark in 1971. Whilst at Race retro, I bought a mark 1 Corgi Capri and it was only when I got home and compared it with the photographs I'm using for reference did I realise the Corgi car is the same car!! Back then it was quite normal to rally and rallycross in the same car, hence my model of Stan Clark's Mk1 Escort has bumpers, number plates and even driving light on the grille!! Bizarre!

I remember well Tony Proctor's Capri. What a beast (the car, not him! ). He had terrible trouble with it. There was too much power for the rest of the car. I recall him having to replace the clutch only for the propshaft to snap or the differential to give up. The problems get progressing down the transmission! I may got to do that in time, but the rate I'm going, it might be 10 years from now!!

I'm hoping to have a display again at the World Rallycross round at Lydden. If so, I won't know until much nearer the time as to where it will be. I'll keep you posted!

One of the first Corgi cars I bought with my pocket money was the Clark rallycross Capri! Although from the pics I've subsequently seen of the real car in action the model represented the car before it moved a wheel in anger as looks pretty beaten up! Think there were at least 2 cars and they were 4wd unless age is fogging my memory..

As it turns out, the Corgi car isn't bad as a donor vehicle - now there's a surprise! The wheels are one of the obvious areas to change and whilst the car ran with headlamps in rallies, for rallycross duties, the lights were removed and blanked off, which is what I'm currently doing.

In case you're thinking I've jumped ship and abandoned my BL roots (err, that isn't going to happen! Ever!), I've also been working on a works Morris 1300 rallycross car. I'm creating the car that Paddy Hopkirk rallycrossed at Lydden in 1969.

I guess it's only a matter of time before a Mk2 joins the display! Horror of horrors!

Chris, there were three 4x4 works Capris rallycrossing in the UK whilst there were others campaigning in Europe and beyond. Some ended up upside down in Australia and others in the U.S. of Americaland. Relax, Chris, your memory is behaving itself and hasn't let you down!!

The Corgi Capri mk 1 is now in primer, having made a few modifications to improve the body.

The doors no longer open but they now line up with the surrounding body work, which is more important for me. None of the rest of my models have open parts... unless oyu drop them!

The casting on the bonnet's leading edge was surprisingly poor with excess metal on it, and the rear edge of the roofline was similarly bad.

The Morris 1300 rallycross car is progressing, having re-resprayed it last night . I've got some additional photos of the front and rear of the car, so it will be exactly as Paddy Hopkirk drove it at Lydden Hill, February 1969. Oh yes!!